Improvement in trusses



F. WIL-KINS & A. A. MGLEAN.

Truss.

No. 213,271. Patented Mar. 11, 1879.

N.PEIERS. PHOTO-U'IHOGRAPHER, wAsHxNGTcN. n. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIGE.

FRANK WILKINS AND ALFRED A. MGLEAN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, GAL.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRU SSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,271, dated March 11, 1879 application filed November 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK \VILKINS and ALFRED A. MGLEAN, of San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trusses for Rupture or Hernia, which invention is fully set forth and described in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Our invention has for its object to construct an improved truss for rupture or hernia; and it consists in the combination and construction of the peculiar devices for supporting the adjustable pad and for varying the pressure of the same upon the ruptured parts, as fully hereinafter explained.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the truss-pad and supporting-strap; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the pad and the devices for connecting it with the belt; and Fig. 3, a view, partly in section, of the same parts disconnected.

- A represents the pad, which is recessed to receive a screw coupling-plate, B, and also a still deeper recess, in which a coiled spring, a, rests. The plate B is held to its seat around the upper recess of the pad by screws b b.

To the end of the leather strap 0 is connected the ball D and socket E, the end of the strap being held between two plates of metal, b b. A screw, 0, passes through these two plates and belt, and enters the ball D, and holds it rigidly. The socket receives the ball previous to its being fixed by the screw 0, and is provided with a female screw, which re-, ceives its counterpart in the coupling-plate B of the pad.

Upon the coiled spring a is placed a leather packing, (7, upon which the ball works, and prevents any friction or harshness by metal coming in contact with metal.

By this construction it will be clearly understood that the pad will easily move to any point of a circle, and readily adjust itself to any surface or action of the body, and with the least possible pain or inconvenience to the wearer.

In order to obtain a greater or less pressure of the pad upon the ruptured parts, the screwcoupling, in which the ball works, is turned up or unscrewed by taking hold of the pad, which relieves or increases the pressure of the ball upon the coiled spring and pad.

For greater ease and elasticity to the wearer, we employ an elastic belt, G, with an inelastic strap, H, the latter being connected to the former by loops ff, and is buckled around the wearer as tightly as desired, which serves to hold the elastic belt carrying the pad in place, and thus prevents the pad from falling below the ruptured parts or the belt below the hips of the wearer, complaints of which are so prevalent where only an elastic belt carrying the pad is employed. One end of this elastic belt is buckled to the leather strap which connects with the pad, and the other end to the pad-plate by a hook and screw-head, as shown, while the perineal strap is held in the usual way.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The recessed pad A, having screw-coupling B, inclosed spiral spring a, and pad d, in combination with the ball D, fixed to the belt, the screw-threaded socket E, part-1y inclosing the ball, and adjustably eonnecte'd with the coupling-plate B, constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 9th day of November, 1878.

FRANK WILKIN S. ALFRED A. MOLEAN.

[L. s.] [L. s] 

